Yeah, From an outisder perspective Krishna and Shiva are very well known. They are interwoven with Brahma though Brahma appears not to be worshipped so much.
Well, its actually Vishnu and Shiva that are sometimes interwoven with Brahma as Creator/Preserver/Destroyer. Krishna is an avatar of Vishnu. Its worth noting that the concept of the Trimurti isn't real notable to Hindus, typically. And you're absolutely right; Brahma is seldom worshipped.
Surya I had to look up but was able to make a few connections...Rama, Shiva, the sun.
The sun, riding along on his glorious chariot.
What led you to your choice of these dieties?
I had an experience with Krishna(one I wasn't expecting). If you'd like to hear it, shoot me a PM. My husband had an experience with Shiva. As for any other deities, I am a polytheist, and am very open in my approach. Sometimes one will pop out and whap me on the head, other times I get a gut feeling to work with one or another. Some stick and become 'friends', others remain more distant.
Buddha is central and then a few Kodami (Shinto spirits within nature). There's a candle, bell and incense. Its really important to my life partner/wife. For her Kami-sama is God or the supreme being.
That sounds beautiful.
I'm aware you and your wife have different faiths. Is that enriching for you, or does it present challenges?
en.wikipedia.org
I get the feeling you are very devoted to spiritual practice.
My spirituality is perhaps the center of my life. I've had my world ripped asunder this last year, and while my practice has had to change, my feelings on it haven't.
Covid has really upended life for a lot of us in a negative way. A lot of school attendence has dropped and tourism is making a slow recovery. To the contrary it has presented a lot of opportunities for some medical doctors.
We ended up homeschooling due to Covid. After my non-verbal son(who was not expected to every become fully verbal) started talking within a month, we kept at it. We're only now considering putting him back in public school(and its going really poorly, and I'm starting to rethink it).
I used to work in mental health including youth. Services are often hard to access due to poor resourses and chronic under funding and staff shortages lead quite a few in the sector to become burnt out and cynical. How has it been getting help for your middle child?
Its been a nightmare. The hospitals locally kept turning us away. The day he was throwing tools at powerlines, rushing neighborhood houses, and laughing maniacally, we drove to an ER a couple hours away. We finally got some help there. But, he's a unique case, and its been a long, drawn out process.
I recite Allah'u'Abha anytime between noon and sunset. I never break it up as it only takes a few minutes. It is one of a few set of spiritual practices set by Baha'u'llah. It probably originates from the Persian Bayan (written by the Bab) and symbolises God and His Manifestations.
That's really cool! Thanks for sharing that.
My mother sounds a little like your father. She was descended from hard line protestants in Northern Ireland.
How did your father feel about your pagan leanings. I can't imagine it wouldn't have been much of an issue for your mother.
He hated it initially, and believed I worshipped the devil lol Over the years, he came around. I think it bothered him that my sisters were anti-religious, and he started actually listening when I'd talk religion.
We're actually able to discuss things civilly now(much like you and I are talking here).
My father was a Free Mason which I came to understand admitted men of any recognised religion. In more recent times its moved from being exclusively men to be more inclusive of women. Better late than never. They do a lot of charity work and are bit like Rotary and the Lions if they are a thing where you live.
I'm an 18th degree Co-Mason.
Co-Masonry is Freemasonry that accepts both men and women. Not a whole lot of lodges around, but I hope that changes someday.
What did paganism look like for you in your teens?
I came in as a Wiccan, and eventually landed at Druidry.
Yes, I notice frequent changes. How does Zoroaster fit with your beliefs? I'm sure you are aware Baha'i view him as a Manifestation of God.
I'm not sure if Zoroaster fits anywhere specific in my beliefs. I find Zoroastrianism interesting; I spent a few months last year trying to familiarize myself with it. I was surprised to learn of all the holy beings under Ahura Mazda, and I loved that each day of the calendar month had its own divinity assigned to it.
I knew Zoroastrianism was considered one of the revealed religions by Baha'i; I didn't know they thought him to be a manifestation of God. Good to know!
